Adjustable coupling



Oct 27, 1942 A. |:noNl y2,300,247

ADJUSTABLE COUPLING Filed June 4, 1941 12' la j Z0 t fMW/W parte STATES 2,300,247 ADJUSTABLE COUPLING Amedce Dion, Ste. Therese de Blainville, Quebec, Canada.

Application `lune 4, 1941, Serial No. 396,573

1 Claim.

The present invention pertains to a novel adjustable coupling or joint for securing two tubular members in communication and at a. selected angle to one another. The device is particularly useful in connection with the discharge member or deflector of an ensilage cutter, although it is obviously useful also in other relations. In the ensilage cutter, it is particularly desirable to adjust the direction and the angle of the delector, and such adjustment is readily obtained by means of the present invention.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a joint or coupling of the character described that can be adjusted in a secure and simple manner, with few manipulations and without the necessity of adjusting bolts or nuts.

Accordingly, the device comprises a pair of complementary locking rings securedto the tubular members to be coupled and having mutually contacting spherical surfaces at which the adjustment is made. In addition, there is a third Vring surrounding one of the members and serving as an anchor for the tightening or locking device of the coupling. The anchor ring carries spring-pressed members engaging a fixed member and also carries latches that lock with the adjusted coupling ring. The spring-pressed members provide the necessary tension in the latches and also operate as the pivotal members for the anchor ring which preferably is placed in a plane parallel to that of the adjusted coupling ring. Adjustable tension devices such as lock nuts are provided on the spring-pressed members and on the latches to regulate the tension in the latches and the tightness of the coupling.

rihe invention is fully disclosed by Way of eX- ample in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of an ensilage cutter equipped according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation;

Figure 3 is a detail vertical section;

Figure 4 is a detail elevation showing an angular adjustment of the parts;

Figure 5 is a plan View of one of the coupling rings, and

Figure 6 is a plan View of the anchoring ring. Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 1 is shown a power driven ensilage cutter I of any construction preferred in the art and mounted on wheels 2. The cut material is discharged through a spout 3 on which is mounted an extension consisting o a vertical portionv ft on which is secured a laterally extending discharge portion 5 known as a deflector.

For the purpose of adjusting the direction and the angle of the portion 5, there is provided a universal coupling between the members 3 and Il, as shown more clearly in Figure 3. To the upper end of the spout 3 is fastened a ring 1 having an outer spherical surface 8. lower end of the member 4 is secured a ring 9 having an inner spherical surface l complementary to the surface 8 and fitted for adjustment thereon. The ring l has a downwardly facing horizontal shoulder H for a purpose that will presently be described.

On the upper end of the spout 3 and below the ring l is mounted a floating or anchor ring I2 having a pair of diametrically opposed apertures i3 and a pair of diametrically opposite slots I4, as shown in Figure 6. In the apertures I3 are mounted pins I5 having heads it at the upper ends and lock nuts Il below the ring I2. The heads are urged upwardly by coil springs I8 surrounding the pins and bearing on the ring I2.

The slots Ill receive rods I9 having lock nuts 2&3 at the lower ends, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The upper ends of the rods are adapted to be received in split tongues 2i extending from the upper coupling ring 9. To the upper extremityy of each rod IS is pivotally attached a locking lever 22 adapted to be swung to a vertical lock-` ing position upon the tongues 2I. The spring pressed heads Il engage the shoulder II or other fixed part of the spout 3 and the locking action is obtained through the downward spring pressure on the ring I2 and rods I9.

In order to alter the angle of the delle-eter 5, the locking levers 22 are released by lowering to the horizontal position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 4. The desired adjustment is made, and the anchor ring I2 is tilted to lie parallel with the upper coupling ring 9. The rods I 9 are re-inserted in the tongues 2l, and the levers 22 snapped into locking position. The anchor ring I2 need not be perfectly parallel to the upper coupling ring 9 and` can adjust itself to a non-p-arallel position by the pivotal action at the heads IB when the lock nuts 2@ are readjusted. The slots Ill allow for play of the rods I9 in the non-parallel position. Also, the desired degree of tightness in the adjusted coupling isY obtained by the adjustment of the lock nuts I1 and 20.

It will now be evident that the invention provides an adjustable universal coupling that mag To the to members to be coupled, said rings having mutually contacting complementary spherical surfaces, a oating anchor ring adapted to surround one of said members, spring-pressed pins slidably mounted in said anchor ring and having their upper ends engagingthe coupling ring on the last named member, rods extending from said anchor ring and engageable with the remaining coupling ring, levers on said rods and adapted to latch on said remaining coupling ring, and lock nuts on said pins and rods for adjusting them lengthwise in said anchor ring. AMEDEE DION.. 

